September Prayer Update

“The Scattered Ones!”

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”(Acts 8:4)

Already many Dawn for the Poor families are being scattered as their homes are being demolished by the government….

This is a photo of one of the new streets in Trese Martires where many of the families from Pandacan have already relocated, and some from Balic-Balic will follow them in a few weeks.

This is part of a vast government relocation program where there will be over 7,000 families living in close proximity in this area of the province of Cavite.

The homes are far superior to those along the railway tracks, but unfortunately this relocation area has been built far from work, health and social facilities.

The major employment at this time is the construction of these new homes – but what happens when the last one is built in a few weeks time. Many men have remained in the city of Manila close to their work, while their wives and children have already relocated to this area.

Please pray that this would not cause massive dysfunction in these families. The schooling is also very inadequate and there is a lack of teachers, & with up to 100 children in a class.

“Preaching Wherever….”

This has been an unexpected turn for Dawn for the Poor as many of the people with whom we have been ministering along the railway tracks have already moved here, including several of our sponsored children. Nanay Yoli, one of the Dawn for the Poor workers from Balic-Balic has already been working here for several months and has started up three Bible studies, a youth ministry & a student sponsorship program started in Trese.

Wherever They Go!

Our commitment continues to be with the poorest of the poor- even as they are being scattered. So now we are looking to the Lord to provide for us to buy one of these buildings in this relocation area in Trese, like this one in the photo above.

We are hoping to use this for a new preschool, a community centre and a church meeting place.

Please pray with us for this and pray that this will all be part of the expanding of God’s Kingdom.

Please don’t stop praying as we continue to look to the Lord for suitable land to build a new Dawn for the Poor community on the outskirts of Manila where there will be work, schooling and health facilities for people who want to relocate there.

If you feel led by God to help with this relocation in any way, contact dawnforthepoor@yahoo.ca for more info. Thank you so much for those who have already written and offered help.

Please pray for our Strategy Council Fred Dungganon, Nilda del Panos and Pastor Dani Edrad as they have taken over most of the responsibility from Pastor Danny & Josie Fransisco who are on a mission vision trip in another country right now.

Thank you so much for your prayers and your support. God bless you. Patrick Hobbs.

‘Dawn for the Poor’ Contacts:

Canada (English) – Patrick Hobbs: hobbspatrick@omf.net

Canada (French) - Brian Ludgate: ludgate@vdn.ca

UK Contact – Doug & Dot Smith: DandDSmith@omf.net

US Contact – Josie Francisco: isko83@yahoo.com

Website: www.dawnforthepoor.com

Information about Dawn for the Poor

In the capital city of Manila, nearly half of the population lives in poverty, many living in shacks along creeks and waterways, along railways, and on abandoned or neglected government land that they cannot hope to own. Bukang Liwayway (Dawn for the Poor) plants house churches in five such areas of Manila: Welfareville, Balic-Balic, Malabon, Pandacan and Cogeo and also in Calapan City, Mindoro. The members of these house churches are involved in service to their neighbours in community development programs.

Child Development Centres provide a healthy environment for the care and nourishing of preschool children, giving parents an opportunity to seek and hold employment.

Youth Educational Assistance provides educational, emotional, social, and medical assistance for youth most at risk. The program supports more than 250 youth attending school, from elementary through high school. Poor families often lack the means to pay school registration and to purchase school uniforms, shoes, and supplies. So the program pays these costs to ensure the children become well established in classes.

In addition, since the parents often lack the ability to provide their children with proper food, the program provides regular support to meet this need. Without that support, many children would stay at home to conserve energy or go out on the streets to work and help provide for the family. On weekends, the youth attend Bible studies to help with their spiritual growth.

In urban poor areas, it is particularly important that members of the community become aware of the necessity of a properly balanced diet and a way to promote adequate health. Dawn for the Poor provides inexpensive medication for the community while sponsoring seminars and workshops on good food, sanitation, and healthcare.

In addition, wells have been drilled and water purifiers installed so that clean potable water is available to the slum residents at a very low price. Proceeds from the sale of purified water paid for the cost of the drilling and purifiers and now contributes to the Youth Educational Assistance program.

Dawn for the Poor also provides an opportunity for those in the youth program and some mothers to participate in small cottage industry endeavors as a means of improving their economic status. Livelihood seminars are given to those who are interested in joining the program. Greeting cards and bookmarks are made for marketing in the Philippines or for export to a number of other countries.

A more recent income-generating project is the production and sale of dishwashing liquid and fabric softener. Currently more than 70 people are engaged in these activities.